ArcelorMittal To Apply For A Water Pollution Permit

ARCELOR MITTAL TO APPLY FOR A WATER POLLUTION PERMIT
The Environmental Management Authority (EMA) has notified ArcelorMittal Point Lisas Limited of the need to apply for a Water Pollution Permit under the Water Pollution Rules (WPR). In this regard, ArcelorMittal has 30 working days to submit a completed application to the EMA.

According to the EMA’s Managing Director/CEO, “Any facility exceeding the maximum permissible levels for water pollutants stipulated in the WPR, may at any time be required to obtain a Water Pollution Permit in order to continue their operations. ArcelorMittal was identified as one such facility, exceeding the levels for Dissolved Iron, Faecal Coliforms and Biological Oxygen Demand and the EMA has exercised its legal authority requiring them to apply for a Water Pollution Permit.”

The main objective of the permitting process is to control and reduce the quality and quantity of effluent discharges in the receiving environment thereby improving the quality of the nation’s water resource and at the same time reducing human and environmental health risks.

The EMA began implementing the permitting process under the WPR in late 2008. To date the EMA notified 21 facilities to apply for permits and issued 13 permits to various industrial establishments throughout Trinidad and Tobago. Dr. Singh also reiterated that the intent is to have all establishments which discharge water pollutants above the permissible levels in the WPR permitted.

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11/05/11

ABOUT THE EMA:

The Environmental Management Authority (EMA) is a statutory body established by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago in June 1995 under the Environmental Management Act.

Under the Act, the EMA is mandated to:
- Draft and enforce laws and regulations for environmental management
- Educate the public about the nation's environmental issues through awareness programmes
- Consider applications for Certificates of Environmental Clearance to new development projects that may impact the environment
- Request an Environmental Impact Assessment from the developer when required
- Co-ordinate environmental functions performed by organisations and persons in Trinidad and Tobago
- Provide for the designation and protection of environmentally sensitive species and areas
- Develop and establish environmental standards and criteria
- Ensure the effective enforcement of environmental laws
- Establish and co-ordinate institutional linkages locally, regionally and internationally

Head Office
#8 Elizabeth Street, St. Clair, Port of Spain
Tele: (868) 628-8042 / 8044-5
Fax: (868) 628-9122

This release was published on openPR.